Leptospirose bovina: prevalencia, variáveis de risco e sorovares predominantes em rebanhos de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

Abstract

Leptospirose bovina: prevalencia, variáveis de risco e sorovares predominantes em rebanhos de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

The prevalence of anti-Leptospira sp. antibodies was investigated in female cattle aged 24 months and older from 178 herds in 22 counties in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. A total of 2,573 blood serum samples were tested against 10 leptospira serovars using the microagglutination test (MAT). Titers of 100 or higher for one or more serovars were detected in 1,801 females (98.8%) from 161 herds (85.2%). Serovar hardjo (65.6%) was implicated as the most likely one, followed by serovar wolffi (12.3%). The results demonstrate the presence of bovine leptospirosis in all the counties investigated, with a high prevalence both among animals and herds. In this particular investigation, beef-cattle raising and the Zebu breed were the risk factors found to be significant for herd infection by leptospiras.